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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not pay full amount for school trip?

149 replies

bingisthebest · 12/05/2017 21:49

School send out a letter saying they are having a trip can you a. Pay a donation b. Pay the sum of .....
I have 3 dcs and although our choice it is expensive for us. Wibu to just pay a smaller donation?

OP posts:
emmyrose2000 · 13/05/2017 05:43

I'm assuming the OP is in the UK. Is it the norm in UK schools to only ask for "contributions/donations" towards trips? What a ridiculous idea. That surely leads to a few paying for the majority and the rest of the school footing the bill for the families who refuse to pay the full amount even if they can afford it. That then takes away money for other resources that could benefit the majority of children.

Where I live, there's one price for each trip. Everyone pays that in full. If you are having genuine financial difficulties then the school is usually prepared to work with you. That could be via a payment plan, or use of discretionary funds that the school will have budgeted for. But the idea that those who can afford it, choosing not to pay (in full or only partly), is abhorrent.

OP, if you can afford to pay the fees in full then of course you should pay in full.

Blimey01 · 13/05/2017 05:45

Saucyjack
You sound like an idiot...

Mummyoflittledragon · 13/05/2017 06:41

My friend told me a very small percentage of parents actually pay the full amount for trips at her ds's school. As a result, they don't go on good trips. I was shocked as this doesn't match with the local demographic. It is disgusting that a proportion of comfortably off parents can't be bothered to pay a pittance such as £6 for the bus journey to a free activity. Pay what you can afford and be honest. I find it baffling that a school is asking for "donations" as this encourages parents to not pay the full amount even if they could afford to do so.

CornwallLass · 13/05/2017 07:02

There are a lot of misconceptions about this. The legal position is found here:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/514619/Charging_for_school_activities.pdf
Quick(ish) summary:
In England, schools can request a voluntary contribution for any curriculum activity (usually trips) held during the school day, The charge must not include an amount eg to pay for a supply teacher for those not going or to cover those not paying. No child may be excluded for not paying, but if insufficient contributions are received, the trip may be cancelled.
For curriculum activities which require materials (eg cookery, DT, art), no child may be excluded for not paying, but they do not get to keep (ie eat, take home) the product.
For residentials, board and lodging are fully payable, except those in receipt of certain benefits can get them free - this is then paid by the school.
Swimming lessons must be free (although academies can choose not to provide swimming lessons) but I believe schools can charge for the transport (can't find link at present). Again, voluntary contributions can be sought.
Before charging, schools must have a policy making it clear what is chargeable and also what benefits entitle parents to subsidies. It should be on the school's website.
At our school, we follow the law to the letter - the parents are still not happy and think the school is trying to pull a fast one.

CornwallLass · 13/05/2017 07:06

Also, the guidance states that schools must make it clear that the contribution is voluntary and must not pressure parents into paying.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 13/05/2017 07:11

My DD's school has reported that the largest amount of donation payers are in the group of parents who get the pupil premium

ginswinger yes I believe that to be true of a lot of schools. I'm a single parent and DCs are on PP. I remember at their last school, someone complaining about the money they had to fork out for world book day costumes, turned out they both smoked weed and well, a ten pound draw of that each was higher up on their priority list.

I actually did start to become a little resentful when I always paid full whack for these trips, even if just asked for a donation, I felt like I was subsidising these people from my own little pool of money which I could little afford to do.

The DCs current school makes sure the trips are paid for upfront (through fundraising events). That way there's never the possibility that Jane or James wont be able to go even if they cant pay.

SailAwayWithMeHoney · 13/05/2017 07:25

If you can afford to pay the full amount and just want to save yourself a few quid, YABU.
If you genuinely can't afford it and can only pay a donation then YANBU.

I'm dreading this when DS goes to school, he's already not going on his nursery leavers trip because I can't afford to send him.

supermoon100 · 13/05/2017 07:34

Dancing, how do you know what anyone posting has been through. I'm posting as someone who has been through some of those things you listed. Whatever happens to you in life you still have choices to make. If op can't afford it, she can't afford it. If she can it's only fair to pay for all 3 of her kids.

intheknickersoftime · 13/05/2017 07:38

SailAway, these threads always attract pretty horrid judgemental comments. I've got three and have struggled to pay for school trips when mine were younger. If you're ever struggling to find the money talk to the school and they may accept a contribution or a payment plan. The head at our primary school was always really helpful to me. I have two at secondary school and the trips are far far cheaper than they were at primary. I can remember being asked for a voluntary contribution of £6 a child for a tropical animal zoo that was visiting the school. £18 to just send my children to school. I guess they could have sat in a classroom separately according to some posters, wouldn't want them sponging Hmm

Jupitar · 13/05/2017 07:42

If you can afford to pay, then pay, I've been extremely skint in the past when the kids were younger and I was out of work for a bit, but I've always found the money for the school trips.

meditrina · 13/05/2017 07:43

"For the first time this year (due to budget cuts) they've said that payment is mandatory- you either pay or you kid doesn't swim."

Not legal in any part of UK.

Making a voluntary payment is meant to cover those who find it totally unaffordable. Pupils premium, the school's own budget or (discreetly) the PTA or if you're really lucky another benefactor (individual or via vicar for church schools) will pay.

It's about communities supporting their own. And is important.

But people can rapidly feel very ripped off if here is even the slightest suspicion that within that community there are some who are taking advantage.

Whileweareonthesubject · 13/05/2017 07:55

As some have pointed out, schools can only ask for a voluntary donation for a curriculum event that takes place during school hours. We are allowed to suggest what the donation should be, but cannot insist upon it. If insufficient donations are received, the entire event can be cancelled. My school has had to cancel some events for this reason, as we no longer have the money in the budget to cover the costs for more than a small number of non payers. Parents seem to think we have a bottomless pit of money to draw upon - we don't. We ask for a donation towards the travel costs for swimming lessons, but not for the lessons themselves. Nobody is excluded for non payment. Residential trips have to be paid for, though we can subsidise (but not pay entire cost) for hardship cases. Enough children don't do that if cost is a factor, no-one feels victimised. And, on residential week, we organise lots of fun activities for those remaining at school.

londonrach · 13/05/2017 07:57

Pickachew worded it right. As a child you either paid and went or didnt and didnt go. Remember loads of times of being put in other classes whilst my class went on a field trip. I just excepted it. By secondary schools my parents could afford it so i was able to do a few field trips. Never forgetten the one to Avebury. That was an eye opener. Left me with a love of history and archeology. These trips have huge benefit. I mean till avebury id never been on a coach! Yabu if you can afford it, yanbu if you cant.

stuckinthehouse · 13/05/2017 08:01

My dc's primary school often run whole school trips and have a policy whereby if you have 1 dc you pay one amount and if you have 2+ dc you pay double, regardless of how many additional dc you have. I think it's sensible as the school has above-average take-up of fsm and there are a couple of families with 4 or 5 kids at the school.

RainbowPastel · 13/05/2017 08:04

Our school asks for donations but they put if not enough donations are made the trip will be cancelled. This has happened on a number of occasions.

We are a low income family but have always paid for every trip in full.

The parents who refuse to pay are the ones bragging about it in the playground as they know it's voluntary so can't be made to pay.

HashiAsLarry · 13/05/2017 08:04

Our school started a policy of 'if you don't pay your kids doesn't go' which didn't quite go as expected as lots of parents decided they were fine with their DC not going. Caused a few trips to be cancelled or DC being taken anyway without payment.

There have been far fewer trips this year and more suggestion of voluntary payments.

muckypup73 · 13/05/2017 08:06

Whilst it is a shame you cant afford it, then they do not go, I am skint but I still pay full price for my children to go on trips, I cannot afford to subsidise you, no offense like.

londonrach · 13/05/2017 08:09

I did a level archaeology as a result and revisited avebury as an adult but nothing can beat that first time i saw those stones, the freedom i had to walk around the village with a little group. I was 11. Eye opener. Huge benefit. Sadly if not another donations the trips get cancelled if the school cant make up the shortfall.

Clutterbugsmum · 13/05/2017 08:16

My DC school, already state on the letter that if they do not get at 80% of the total cost then the trip will not happen.

Most school trip fees are for transport cost rather then the actual place the children are visiting.

My year 3 teacher this year told their year group if they do not pay then they will not be going and those children who have paid will. Funnily enough everyone else paid the next day.

The trip was £10 and we had a month to pay it.

I get fed up with parents at my DC school (deprived area) complaining about the price of the trip (in the 10 years I have had children at the school I have never had to pay more the £20 for a trip), yet they all smoke, but scratch cards and have the latest mobile phone.

Iamastonished · 13/05/2017 08:41

Is making the payment voluntary a recent thing? When DD was at primary school it was never stated on the letter that payment was voluntary.

She is in year 12 now and the A level biology students will be going to Chester zoo. This time the letter states that payment is voluntary, but if they don't receive enough funds then it will be cancelled.

From the number of posts on MN it sounds like there are too many families taking the piss.

BertrandRussell · 13/05/2017 08:56

All payments for activities or trips at state schools are voluntary-schools are not allowed to ask fro compulsory payments. All they can say is that if there aren't enough payments the trip won't be able to go ahead.

ellanutella8 · 13/05/2017 08:56

In my experience astonished once one person takes the piss lots of people follow.

Last year at school we went on four trips over the year as the children were culturally deprived (not economic, they had money but didn't spend it on experiences). This year we went on two.

6 out of 30 children did not pay for the last trip. That money came out of our class budget. As a result there are fewer glue sticks, laminating pouches, crayons, rubbers....

So if you can pay you absolutely should. The alternative is an incredibly boring education for all children because they have no exciting experiences to write about and have no classroom resources to learn with.

Iamastonished · 13/05/2017 09:05

"The alternative is an incredibly boring education for all children because they have no exciting experiences to write about and have no classroom resources to learn with."

As a result of some self entitled piss taking parents. That is so sad.

Iamastonished · 13/05/2017 09:07

Maybe schools should make it clearer that unless a certain percentage of funds are raised then the trip won't go ahead?

Are these piss taking parents so unaware of the current education funding crisis?

TSSDNCOP · 13/05/2017 09:13

I bet if you got some teachers or school secretary's on here they'd tell you there's always someone that doesn't pay, and it's rarely the families that are genuinely strapped and who could use some assistance.

The able to pay non-payers count on the school or the PTA making up the difference and it always seems to happen. These are sponges and should be embarrassed, but then if you've got that kind of front you never will be.

Something I learnt fairly early when organising class money raising was don't front anyone the cash, especially the people that you think will be good for it.